The attack is the latest indication of growing hostility toward pro-life advocates across the country.

The victim of the violent attack was Purity Thomas, a 15-year-old student leader of Students for Life of America. SFLA President Kristan Hawkins said police are investigating.

“This act of violence against a group of peaceful pro-life students who were outside a Planned Parenthood facility offering love and support to pregnant women serves as a sad reflection on the state of debate today,” Hawkins said. “It’s horrific that a minor expressing love for pregnant women was targeted for violence. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident.”

Thomas and several other students from Liberty University were doing sidewalk counseling outside the abortion facility on Saturday when the attack occurred, TownHall reports. The students said they were peacefully reaching out to women and praying in a grassy public area near the abortion facility.

Witnesses said a woman confronted the students and began threatening to beat them up and “f— them up.” The group accused the unnamed woman of stealing one of the pro-life advocate’s signs and later punching Thomas, knocking her to the ground.

Thomas was taken to the hospital. She later told CBN News that a doctor said she sustained a minor concussion from the assault.

The students also called the police, who interviewed the woman who allegedly punched Thomas. It is not clear who the woman was.

“Across the country we are witnessing a rise in the number of incidents of vandalism and violence against peaceful pro-life speech,” Hawkins said in a statement. “We pray that the assailant from today’s attack is brought to justice swiftly. But we also pray for the protection of those who volunteer their time to speak for the innocent, preborn infants and their mothers.”

Pro-life advocates increasingly have become victims of threats, vandalism and other harassment.

“Other incidences of violence against our group include: Administrators destroying chalkings at Kutztown University, vandals throwing paint on a display at Portland State University, and a display of graduation cords (to highlight ‘missing students’ who were killed by abortion) at University of Miami,” according to Students for Life.